Vehicle wheel and methods of making and using a vehicle wheel

Abstract

A vehicle wheel for mounting at least two tires, an assembly comprising the vehicle wheel, methods of making the vehicle wheel, and methods of using the vehicle wheel. The vehicle wheel comprises a generally cylindrical first region, a generally cylindrical second region, a third region, and a fourth region. The first region comprises a first tire mount disposed about a circumference of an outer surface of the first region. The second region comprises a second tire mount disposed about a circumference of an outer surface of the second region. The third region is disposed intermediate and connecting the first region and the second region. The fourth region is integral with and extends radially inward from an inner surface of the third region. The fourth region is configured to mount to a vehicle axle. The first, second, third, and fourth regions are regions of a monolithic body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle wheel comprising:
 a generally cylindrical first region comprising a first tire mount disposed about a circumference of an outer surface of the first region;   a generally cylindrical second region comprising a second tire mount disposed about a circumference of an outer surface of the second region;   a third region disposed intermediate and connecting the first region and the second region; and   a fourth region integral with and extending radially inwardly from an inner surface of the third region, the fourth region configured to mount to a vehicle axle, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth regions are regions of a monolithic body.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the first region and the second region extend in directions that are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth region extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the third region. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth region comprises a generally circular plate shape. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 4 , wherein a center portion of the fourth region comprises an opening. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 4 , wherein the fourth region comprises at least two openings disposed about a periphery of the fourth region and proximal to the inner surface of the third region. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth region comprises an integral hub section configured to mount the vehicle wheel to a vehicle axle using a single fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth region comprises at least two bores configured to receive a stud on a hub of a vehicle axle. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first tire mount and the second tire mount comprises a tire bead seat. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first region and the second region comprises a nominal rim diameter in a range of 1 inch to 200 inches, inclusive. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first region and the second region comprises a nominal rim width in a range of 1 inch to 100 inches, inclusive. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the first tire mount and the second tire mount are axially spaced apart a distance configured to form a gap between a first tire mounted on the first tire mount and a second tire mounted on the second tire mount. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first region and the second region comprises a nominal rim diameter in a range of 14 inches to 25 inches, inclusive, and at least one of the first region and the second region comprises a nominal rim width in a range of 6 inches to 12 inches, inclusive. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle wheel is at least one of a bonded wheel, a welded wheel, a formed wheel, a cured wheel, cast wheel, a forged wheel, and an additively manufactured wheel. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle wheel comprises at least one of a metal, a metal alloy, a plastic, and a composite. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle wheel comprises at least one of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, magnesium, magnesium alloy, iron, iron alloy, fiber glass, and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithic body does not comprise fasteners to join the first, second, third, and fourth regions. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly for a vehicle comprising:
 the vehicle wheel recited in  claim 1 ;   a first tire mounted on the first region of the vehicle wheel; and   a second tire mounted on the second region of the vehicle wheel;   wherein a gap is present between the first wheel and the second wheel.   
     
     
         19 . A method comprising mounting the vehicle wheel of  claim 1  on a drive axle of a vehicle or a trailer axle of a trailer. 
     
     
         20 . A method of producing a vehicle wheel, the method comprising:
 providing a monolithic vehicle wheel by a method comprising at least one of bonding, welding, forming, curing, forging, casting, and additively manufacturing at least one of metal, a metal alloy, a plastic, and a composite, the vehicle wheel comprising:
 a generally cylindrical first region comprising a first tire mount disposed about a circumference of an outer surface of the first region; 
 a generally cylindrical second region comprising a second tire mount disposed about a circumference of an outer surface of the second region; 
 a generally cylindrical third region disposed intermediate and connecting the first region and the second region; and 
 a fourth region integral with and extending radially inwardly from an inner surface of the third region, the fourth region configured to mount to a vehicle axle, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth regions are regions of the monolithic vehicle wheel.